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Assent procedure

European Parliament, Strasbourg (Photo: European Parliament)

Introduced with the Single European Act in 1987, the assent procedure is used by the EU Parliament to approve international treaties and some other decisions outside co-decision and consultation.

Important international treaties require absolute majority of all members (393 of 785).

In other articles (TEC 105, 107, 161 and 300) the assent procedure only requires a simple majority of the votes cast.

Agreements with third countries, association agreements and approval of new Member States require absolute majority of Membes.

MEPs can therefore vote against enlargement in two different ways: by voting “No” or by abstaining.

The future

The EU Parliament wants the assent procedure to be applied to Treaty changes (currently the parliament is only consulted). The Lisbon Treaty gives the European Parliament the possibility to suggest Treaty changes and demands its assent within the simplified revision procedure (art. 33 TEU). 

Links

See also agreements with other countries and association agreement.

http://europa.eu.int/instituti......s/decision-making/index_en.htm